Chocolate-refining apparatus.



F. H. PAGE.

CHOCOLATE REFINING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-29,1915.

Patented Mar. 21, 1916.

IN V EN TOR. M15.

. WITNESSES.- Jef/Zz ATTORNEY.

MWA

THB COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH WASMINGMN. D. C.

F. H. PAGE.

CHOCOLATE REFINING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION man 1AN.29. 1915.

1 1 76,722. Patented Mar. 21, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

[Ai-u v W l TNESSES: IN V EN TOR.

A TTORNE Y.

F. H. PAGE. CHOCOLATE REFINING APPARATUS.

Patented Mar. 21, 1916.

L m.. 0n 2 N. A .J D E IL rl... N 0 n A C U DI DI A I 2 2 7 9 6 7 l `l l 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

. INI/ENTOR.

A TTOR NE Y,

CHOCOLATE-REFINING APPARATUS.

VTo. all whom may cov-zoem: V

- Be it knownV thatI, FRANK I-I. PAGE, a

citizen of the United Statesiof Alnerica, re-

Y late is rened-by a rubbing action. Such a rubbing action is commonly accomplished by a granite roll reciprocable upon a granite bed in a tank containing the chocolate to be rened.

In refining apparatus of this class, ithasbeen found by experience that there is a definite limit in the size to which the tank may be built. Beyond this limit, anincrease in size reduces the eiiiciency of the refining action. Therefore, y it is not practical to ,provide for increased capacity by employing tanks of extra largeAV size. Hence, instead of one large tank, it is preferable to. use a number of smaller tanks in order to retain the lhighest eiiiciency in refining the chocolate.

In large factories, where such rening machines are used in great numbers, this limitation of size now necessitates the occupation of a large area of valuable floor space to accommodatethe many small tanks.

It is an object of this invention to provide any improved refining apparatus which embodies a number of individual refining tanks grouped and connected together into a single improved machine, having a main frame, whereby a maximum aggregate capacity is obtained with aV minimum occupation of fioor space.

Another object of the invention is to arrange the plurality of operating devices in a new'and useful manner, so that the assembled devices will operate as an improved unit. y

A further object isto provide an apparavtus of the class described, wherein maximum capacity with a 'minimum occupation of floor space is combined with the greatest efficiency of operation.

VIn the accompanying drawings, wherein I Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 21, 1916.

Application filed J' anuary 29, f1915. Serial No. 5,024.

illustrate onepreferred formof my invention :y Figure l is a front elevational view of my improved refining apparatus; Fig. 2 is a plan'view thereof; Fig. 3 is an end elevational View; Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation of a portion of one of the upper tanksof my apparatus showing the outlet and gate therefor; Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, showing the outlet opened.

Referring to the drawings in detail; Figs. l, 2, and 3 indicate four units A, B, C, and D of my refining apparatus supported upon a floor and mounted on the units are four other similar units E, F, G, and II, respectively. All of these tanks are similarly constructed and a description of one thereof will suffice for all. The tank B comprises a tank-like structure open at the top and suitably supported by legs as shown. The bottorn of the tank is slightly curved and is provided with a bed l of stone. In contact with the latter is a roll o', of the same material, which is reciprocable on the bed byan operating rod b in a manner to be described. Each of the other` tanks has a similar roll and operating rod as a, c, d, e, f, g, and h, respectively.

Mountedbetween and supported on each lower pair of tanks A, B, and C, D, are frames I, which rotatably support a main driving shaft 2 and a shaft 3. The frames I bear other frames AJ, and in the latter another shaft 4 is journaled. The shaft 2 may be suitably driven from any source by the pulley shown and the shafts 3 and 4 are driven therefrom at equal speeds, by the gearing shown. Fixed on opposite ends of the shaft' 3 and in opposed relation are cranks 6 and 7 and similarly arranged on the shaft 4 cranks 8 and 9. Each of the cranks has pivotally connected thereto a pair of operating rods, for example the crank 6 has connected thereto the rods a and b andthe'crank 7, the rods c and (Z. The

Aupper operating rods e, f, and g 71. are simitheir connected rolls.

Each of the tanks is adapted to receive.

chocolate, which is introduced from the top of the tank. The top openings in the four upper tanks are provided with removable Covers 10, the one for the tank H being shown .removed in rFig. 2. The top openings in the four lowerV tanks are closed by the ,covers 11 applied between the legs of the upper tanks, which are readily removable by the handles shown. After the chocolate has been suiiiciently reiined it may be removed from the four lower tanks by dipping. Such a process, however, is not convenient for the four upper` tanks and special outlets are accordingly provided. One of the latter is clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 5, which show the outlet in closed and open condition, respectively. An outlet 12 leads to a sloping trough 19 and, when the former isopen, the chocolate readily passes from the tank by gravity. The side walls of the Y trough 19 have ways 18, in which a cover 13 provided with a handle 17 is slidable. Formed on the side walls of the trough 19 and below the ways 18 are lugs 16, shaped as shown in'Fig. 5. These lugs are adapted to support a cross bar 14 in which is mounted a threaded rod 15. One end of the latter,

; when turned engages the plate 13 and forces the same against the lower walls of the outlet 12. AOn account of the removable mounting of the plate 13 and bar 16 an unobstruct ed passage for the chocolate which Vcan be readily cleaned is obtained, when the outlet -is open.

One of the principal advantages ofthe apparatus in addition to the balanced driving varrangement described lies in its economy of floor space. Thus, by the superposition of the upper tanks upon the lowerpthe capacity of the apparatus may vbe doubled without the use of additional floor space.V If the capacity of the plant is not increased a saving of half the floor space formerly used is obviously made, but in fact an even greater saving in floor space is effected by this arrangement as will be y explained. It is necessary that. each tank be conveniently filled, emptied and inspected. As a consequence, aisles are desirable between and at the sides ofthe tanks. If we consider eight tanks arranged on the Hoor in pairs asshown five aisles would be necessary, two at the extreme sides and one (as at K, Fig. 2) between each pair. However, when four tanks are superposed upon four other tanks,three aisles only are re- Aquired. Thus, .a saving of the spaceroccupied by four tanks plus two aisles VisV obtained` by my arrangement.

Heretofore, on account of the limitation of size of the refining tanks a large amount of space has been necessary since Aeach individual tank was placed directly upon the floor. In large factories the extended-area necessary `for these machines hasA been aV hardship imposed on the users offrening apparatus. My improved machine permits greatly increased capacity without added floor space or decreased Hoor space with thelsame capacity and is'thus ecoiiomicallyarranged.` A'

' In the former arrangement, embodying a plurality of tanks ,each supported on the Hoor, the tanks were arranged in opposedY pairs and an operating sha-ft extendedbetween each pair to drive'all of the operating rods. If eight tanks wereV so ldistributed a shaft more thanV double the length required in my apparatus would be necessary. Consequently, dueto four cranks arranged at intervals on a long shaft,V severe torsional strains would be placed on the shaft. .Fur`

balancing of the cranks Vand considerable vibration in the operation of the `machine wouldresult. e'

My preferred apparatus embodies-two l thermore, this arrangement does not permit very short shaftsgeared together to run at equal speeds. Each of these Yshafts fhas thereon cranks arranged in opposed relation and the cranks onone shaft are arranged rectangularly to those on Vthe other shaft.

Thus, the load onthe machine is'equa'lly disfV f Thus I have provided by my invention a e apparatus which is operable at the highest efficiency compactly arrangedV refiningV and yet provides a maximum capacity for a minimum amount of floor 'space. It is recognized that many modifications may Vbe made in the structure described without departing from the scope of .my Vinvention which is defined 'in the appendedclaim.

What I claim is: Y Y i A' chocolate refining apparatus comprising as a unit, a main frame, separate con taining tanks, tworpairs arrangeda't one level andanother two pairs superimposed thereon, a reciprocable rubbing roll in each Vtank.'a main driving shaft,-two crank shafts, one located above the otlierand each driven from the main shaft, a cranklfor each-pair respect to each other and at 90 degrees with respect to the cranks on the other shaft.

FRANK H. PAGE.

In the presence of- Gno. A. BAUsMAN, M. W. BANNAN.

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. G.

of rubbing rolls, operable connecting means between the cranks and rolls, the rolls of the tanks at one level being connected with the cranks on one shaft and those at the other level being connected with the cranks on the other shaft, the two cranks on each shaft being arranged at 180 degrees With 

